-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, PgsCMzgx+iCBZ2CaySE298GCGJocL47BW55HEtCMUXQ2uVtfswTjtRLhqB1Q9zcE BLSyyYkN92NfWJWtTWfUlQ== 0000899689-08-000016.txt : 20080502 0000899689-08-000016.hdr.sgml : 20080502 20080502142326 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000899689-08-000016 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080502 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080502 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VORNADO REALTY TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000899689 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 221657560 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 0628 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150592 FILM NUMBER: 08798238 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 888 SEVENTH AVE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-894-7000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 888 SEVENTH AVE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 S-3 1 s-3.htm

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2008

Registration No. 333-

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________________________

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_______________________________________________


VORNADO REALTY TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

MARYLAND
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)


888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
(212) 894-7000
(Address Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Executive Offices)

 

22-1657560
(IRS Employer Identification Number)


Joseph Macnow
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
(212) 894-7000
(Address Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

 

William G. Farrar, Esq.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by market conditions.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ X ]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ X ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box. [ ]

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of shares
to be registered

Amount to be registered

Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)

Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)

 

Amount of
registration fee (2)

Common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.04 per share (1)

793,372

$94.54

 

$75,005,389

 

$2,948

 

(1)

This Registration Statement on Form S-3 (“Registration Statement”) registers 793,372 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.04 per share (“Common Shares”), of Vornado Realty Trust (“Vornado”) that may be offered by certain selling shareholders (the “Selling Shareholders”) comprised of up to 653,574 Common Shares that Vornado may elect to issue to certain Selling Shareholders upon redemption of up to 653,574 Class A units (“Units”) of limited partnership interest in Vornado Realty L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) issued by the Operating Partnership in connection with the conversion of 563,263 Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Units of limited partnership by the Selling Shareholders and up to 139,798 Common Shares that Vornado may elect to issue to certain Selling Stockholders upon redemption of 139,798 Units that may be issued by the Operating Partnership upon the conversion or redemption of certain Class B Units of limited partnership issued by the Operating Partnership in connection with the restructuring of the Class B Units.  This Registration Statement also relates to such additional Common Shares as may be issued as a result of certain adjustments including, without limitation, share dividends and share splits.

(2)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) based on the average of the high and low reported sales prices on the New York Stock Exchange on April 30, 2008.

 

 

 


 PROSPECTUS

793,372 SHARES

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

The Selling Shareholders (the “Selling Shareholders”) of Vornado Realty Trust (“Vornado”) named herein may offer from time to time up to 793,372 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.04 per share (“Common Shares”), of Vornado, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale. Vornado will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares being sold by the Selling Shareholders.  See “Use of Proceeds” herein.

On January 18, 2007,Vornado Realty L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), (i) issued to the Selling Shareholders 653,574 Class A Units and (ii) issued to the Selling Shareholders 139,798 Class B-1 Units of limited partnership and 304,761 Class B-2 Units of limited partnership (together, the “Class B Units”), in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Subject to certain conditions, the Selling Shareholders have the right to convert all or a portion of their Class B Units into Class A Units of limited partnership (“Class A Units”) and the Operating Partnership has the right to redeem all or a portion of the Class B Units for Class A Units.

The Common Shares covered by this prospectus are comprised of (a) up to 653,574 Common Shares that may be issued to certain Selling Shareholders, at our option, upon the redemption of the 653,574 Class A Units issued by the Operating Partnership and (b) up to 139,798 Common Shares that may be issued to certain Selling Shareholders, at our option, upon the redemption of 139,798 Class A Units that may be issued by the Operating Partnership upon the conversion or redemption of the Class B Units.

We have registered the offering and resale of the Common Shares to allow the Selling Shareholders to sell these Common Shares without restriction in the open market or otherwise, but the registration of the Common Shares does not necessarily mean that the Selling Shareholders will elect to redeem their Units or that the Selling Shareholders will offer or sell their Common Shares.  See “Selling Shareholders” herein.

The Selling Shareholders may sell the Common Shares offered hereby directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents designated from time to time. Sales of Common Shares in particular offerings may be made on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing, at prices related to the then current market price, at fixed prices (which may be changed) or in negotiated transactions.  To the extent required for any offering, a supplement to this Prospectus (a “Prospectus Supplement”) will set forth the number of Common Shares then being offered, the initial offering price, the names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents and the applicable sales commission or discount.  Any such Prospectus Supplement will also contain a discussion of the material United States Federal income tax considerations relating to the Common Shares to the extent not contained herein.  See “Plan of Distribution” herein.

The Common Shares of Vornado are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VNO.”

See “Risk Factors” on page 6 for certain factors relevant to an investment in the Common Shares.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

______________________________________________

 

Prospectus dated May 2, 2008.

 

 


You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in these documents. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. If anyone provides you with different, inconsistent or unauthorized information or representations, you must not rely on them. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are an offer to sell only the securities offered by these documents, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is current only as of the date on the front of those documents.

Unless the context otherwise requires or as otherwise specified, references in this prospectus to “Vornado,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Vornado Realty Trust and its subsidiaries, including Vornado Realty L.P., except where we make clear that we mean only the parent company, Vornado Realty Trust. In addition, we sometimes refer to Vornado Realty L.P. as the “operating partnership.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common shares are listed.

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document, please be aware that the reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site.

 

2

 


The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC:

 

(1)

Annual report of Vornado Realty Trust on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with SEC on February 26, 2008 (File No. 001-11954);

 

(2)

Current report of Vornado Realty Trust on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 12, 2008 (File No. 001-11954);

 

(3)

The description of Vornado Realty Trust’s common shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-B, filed with the SEC on May 10, 1993 (File No. 001-11954); and

 

(4)

All documents filed by Vornado Realty Trust under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of this offering or after the date of the initial registration statement and before effectiveness of the registration statement, except that the information referred to in Item 402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K of the SEC is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can request those documents from our corporate secretary, 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, telephone (212) 894-7000. Alternatively, copies of these documents may be available on our website (www.vno.com). Any other documents available on our website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

3

 


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference in it, contains forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business. These statements may be made directly in this document or they may be made part of this document by reference to other documents filed with the SEC, which is known as “incorporation by reference.” You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans” or similar expressions in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference.

These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, those listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and, to the extent applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the following possibilities:

 

national, regional and local economic conditions;

 

consequences of any armed conflict involving, or terrorist attack against, the United States;

 

our ability to secure adequate insurance;

 

local conditions such as an oversupply of space or a reduction in demand for real estate in the area;

 

competition from other available space;

 

whether tenants consider a property attractive;

 

the financial condition of our tenants, including the extent of tenant bankruptcies or defaults;

 

whether we are able to pass some or all of any increased operating costs through to our tenants;

 

how well we manage our properties;

 

fluctuations in interest rates;

 

changes in real estate taxes and other expenses;

 

changes in market rental rates;

 

the timing and costs associated with property improvements and rentals;

 

changes in taxation or zoning laws;

 

government regulation;

 

our failure to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust;

 

availability of financing on acceptable terms or at all;

 

potential liability under environmental or other laws or regulations; and

 

general competitive factors.

 

4

 


Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our future results, financial condition and business may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these items are beyond our ability to control or predict. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, if applicable, the date of the applicable document incorporated by reference.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For more information on the uncertainty of forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and, to the extent applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

5

 


RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common shares involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein, and, to the extent applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, to read about factors you should consider before investing in our common shares.

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

Vornado Realty Trust is a fully integrated real estate investment trust organized under the laws of Maryland. We conduct our business through, and substantially all of our interests in properties are held by, Vornado Realty L.P. Vornado Realty L.P. is the operating partnership. We are the sole general partner of, and owned approximately 90.1% of the common limited partnership interest in, Vornado Realty L.P. as of December 31, 2007.

At December 31, 2007 we, through the operating partnership, currently own directly or indirectly:

 

Office Properties:

 

all or portions of 24 office properties aggregating approximately 16.0 million square feet in the New York City metropolitan area (primarily Manhattan);

 

all or portions of 84 office properties aggregating 17.6 million square feet in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas;

 

a 70% controlling interest in 555 California Street aggregating 1.8 million square feet in San Francisco’s financial district;

 

Retail Properties:

 

177 retail properties in 21 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico aggregating approximately 21.9 million square feet, including 3.6 million square feet owned by tenants on land leased from us;

 

Merchandise Mart Properties:

 

9 properties in five states and Washington, DC aggregating approximately 9.1 million square feet of showroom and office space, including the 3.3 million square foot Merchandise Mart in Chicago;

 

Toys “R” Us, Inc.:

 

a 32.7% interest in Toys “R” Us, Inc. which owns and/or operates 1,352 stores worldwide, including 588 toy stores and 259 Babies “R” Us stores in the United States and 505 toy stores internationally;

 

Other Real Estate Investments:

 

 

32.8% of the common stock of Alexander’s, Inc. (NYSE: ALX), which has seven properties in the greater New York metropolitan area;

 

6

 


 

the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City, consisting of a hotel portion containing 1.0 million square feet with 1,700 rooms and a commercial portion containing 400,000 square feet of retail and office space;

 

mezzanine loans to entities that have significant real estate assets; and

 

interests in other real estate, including interests in other public companies that own and manage office, industrial and retail properties net leased to major corporations and student and military housing properties throughout the United States; six warehouse/industrial properties in New Jersey containing approximately 1.2 million square feet; and other investments and marketable securities.

Recent Development

On March 31, 2008, we sold our 47.6% interest in Americold Realty Trust to The Yucaipa Companies for net proceeds of approximately $220 million, resulting in a gain of approximately $113 million.

Our principal executive offices are located at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, and our telephone number is (212) 894-7000.

 

7

 


USE OF PROCEEDS

All of the Common Shares are being offered by the Selling Shareholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares but will acquire units in Vornado Realty L.P. in exchange for any Common Shares that we may issue to a redeeming Unit holder.

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

The following table sets forth the names of the Selling Shareholders, the total number of Common Shares beneficially owned by them as of April 30, 2008, the total number of Common Shares offered by the Selling Shareholders and the total number and percentage of outstanding Common Shares that will be beneficially owned by the Selling Shareholders upon completion of the offering. The table assumes that (i) Class B Units held by Selling Shareholders have been converted or redeemed for Class A Units, and (ii) the Class A Units received upon the conversion or redemption of the Class B Units along with the other Class A Units acquired by such Selling Shareholder on January 18, 2007, have been redeemed by the Selling Shareholders and that we issue Common Shares to the Selling Shareholders. In addition, since the Selling Shareholders may sell all, some or none of their Common Shares, the table assumes that the Selling Shareholders are offering, and will sell, all of the Common Shares to which this prospectus relates.

We have registered the offering and resale of the Common Shares to allow the Selling Shareholder to sell these Common Shares without restriction in the open market or otherwise, but the registration of the Common Shares does not necessarily mean that we will redeem the Class A Units held by the Selling Shareholders for our Common Shares or that the Selling Shareholders will offer or sell their Common Shares.

The Selling Shareholders and their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest may sell the Common Shares offered hereby directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents designated from time to time. Sales of Common Shares in particular offerings may be made on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing, at prices related to the then current market price, at fixed prices (which may be changed) or in negotiated transactions. To the extent required for any offering, a supplement to this Prospectus (a “Prospectus Supplement”) will set forth the number of Common Shares then being offered, the initial offering price, the names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents and the applicable sales commission or discount. See “Plan of Distribution” below for more information.

Name of Selling Shareholders(1)

Common Shares Beneficially Owned

Common Shares Offered

Common Shares Beneficially Owned,

Assuming the Sale of all Common Shares Offered

Percentage of Outstanding Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Assuming the Sale of all Common Shares Offered

Park Realty (IL), LLC

605,374

605,374

0

*

Park Realty (DC), LLC

187,998

187,998

 

 

Total

793,372

793,372

0

*

*less than 1%

o(1) The information provided in this section has been provided to us by the Selling Shareholders.

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

The following description of our common shares is only a summary and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provision governing the common shares contained in our (a) restated declaration of trust, and (b) amended and restated bylaws, copies of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this

 

8

 


prospectus is a part. See “Available Information” for information about how to obtain copies of the declaration of trust and bylaws.

The declaration of trust authorizes the issuance of up to 720,000,000 shares, consisting of 250,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $.04 par value per share, 110,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share, and 360,000,000 excess shares of beneficial interest, $.04 par value per share.

As of March 31, 2008, 153,596,239 common shares were issued and outstanding. No excess shares were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2008. Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VNO.”

As of March 31, 2008, the declaration of trust authorizes the issuance of 110,000,000 preferred shares. Of the authorized 110,000,000 preferred shares, we have designated:

 

83,977 as $3.25 Series A Convertible Preferred Shares;

 

4,800,000 as Series D-10 7.00% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

1,400,000 as Series D-11 7.20% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

800,000 as Series D-12 6.55% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

4,000,000 as Series D-14 6.75% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

1,800,000 as Series D-15 6.875% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

3,000,000 as 7.00% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

6,000,000 as 6.75% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

8,000,000 as 6.625% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

4,500,000 as 6.750% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares; and

 

10,800,000 as 6.625% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares.

As of March 31, 2008, 59,862 Series A Preferred Shares, 1,600,000 Series D-10 Preferred Shares, 3,000,000 Series E Preferred Shares, 6,000,000 Series F Preferred Shares, 8,000,000 Series G Preferred Shares, 4,500,000 Series H Preferred Shares and 10,800,000 Series I Preferred Shares were outstanding. No Series D-11, Series D-12, Series D-14 or Series D-15 Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007. Shares of each of these series may be issued in the future upon redemption of preferred units of limited partnership interest of the operating partnership of a corresponding series that were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007.

Dividend and Voting Rights of Holders of Common Shares

The holders of our common shares are entitled to receive dividends when, if and as authorized by our board and declared by us out of assets legally available to pay dividends, if receipt of the dividends is in compliance with the provisions in the declaration of trust restricting the transfer of shares of beneficial interest. However, if any preferred shares are at the time outstanding, we may only pay dividends or other distributions on common shares or purchase common shares if full cumulative dividends have been paid on outstanding preferred shares and there is no arrearage in any mandatory sinking fund on outstanding preferred shares. The terms of the series of preferred shares that are now issued and outstanding do not provide for any mandatory sinking fund.

 

9

 


The holders of our common shares are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters on which shareholders are entitled to vote, including elections of trustees. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares can elect all of the trustees then standing for election. The holders of our common shares do not have any conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. If we are dissolved, liquidated or wound up, holders of our common shares are entitled to share proportionally in any assets remaining after the prior rights of creditors, including holders of our indebtedness, and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred shares then outstanding are satisfied in full.

The common shares have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights and have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights. All outstanding common shares are, and the common shares offered by this prospectus, upon issuance, will be, duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable.

Restrictions on Ownership of Common Shares

The common shares beneficial ownership limit

For us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of a taxable year and the shares of beneficial interest must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. The Code defines “individuals” to include some entities for purposes of the preceding sentence. All references to a shareholder’s ownership of common shares in this section “— The common shares beneficial ownership limit” assume application of the applicable attribution rules of the Code under which, for example, a shareholder is deemed to own shares owned by his or her spouse.

Our declaration of trust contains a number of provisions that restrict the ownership and transfer of shares and are designed to safeguard us against an inadvertent loss of our REIT status. These provisions also seek to deter non-negotiated acquisitions of, and proxy fights for, us by third parties. Our declaration of trust contains a limitation that restricts, with some exceptions, shareholders from owning more than a specified percentage of the outstanding common shares. We call this percentage the “common shares beneficial ownership limit.” The common shares beneficial ownership limit was initially set at 2.0% of the outstanding common shares. Our board subsequently adopted a resolution raising the common shares beneficial ownership limit from 2.0% to 6.7% of the outstanding common shares and has the authority to grant exemptions from the common shares beneficial ownership limit. The shareholders who owned more than 6.7% of the common shares immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into Vornado in May 1993 may continue to do so and may acquire additional common shares through stock option and similar plans or from other shareholders who owned more than 6.7% of the common shares immediately after that merger. However, common shares cannot be transferred if, as a result, more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding shares would be owned by five or fewer individuals. While the shareholders who owned more than 6.7% of the common shares immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into Vornado in May 1993 are not generally permitted to acquire additional common shares from any other source, these shareholders may acquire additional common shares from any source if we issue additional common shares, up to the percentage held by them immediately before we issue the additional shares.

Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of common shares can result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of common shares in excess of the common shares beneficial ownership limit. For instance, if two shareholders, each of whom owns 3.5% of our outstanding common shares, were to marry, then after their marriage both shareholders would be deemed to own 7.0% of our outstanding common shares, which is in excess of the common shares beneficial ownership limit. Similarly, if a shareholder who owns 4.9% of the outstanding common shares were to purchase a 50% interest in a corporation which owns 4.8% of the outstanding common shares, then the shareholder would be deemed to own 7.3% of our outstanding common shares. You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in your particular circumstances.

 

10

 


The constructive ownership limit

Under the Code, rental income received by a REIT from persons in which the REIT is treated, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, as owning a 10% or greater interest does not constitute qualifying income for purposes of the income requirements that REITs must satisfy. For these purposes, a REIT is treated as owning any stock owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, by a person that owns 10% or more of the value of the outstanding shares of the REIT. The attribution rules of the Code applicable for these purposes are different from those applicable with respect to the common shares beneficial ownership limit. All references to a shareholder’s ownership of common shares in this section “— The constructive ownership limit” assume application of the applicable attribution rules of the Code.

In order to ensure that our rental income will not be treated as nonqualifying income under the rule described in the preceding paragraph, and thus to ensure that we will not inadvertently lose our REIT status as a result of the ownership of shares by a tenant, or a person that holds an interest in a tenant, the declaration of trust contains an ownership limit that restricts, with some exceptions, shareholders from owning more than 9.9% of the outstanding shares of any class. We refer to this 9.9% ownership limit as the “constructive ownership limit.” The shareholders who owned shares in excess of the constructive ownership limit immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into Vornado in May 1993 generally are not subject to the constructive ownership limit. The declaration of trust also contains restrictions that are designed to ensure that the shareholders who owned shares in excess of the constructive ownership limit immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into Vornado in May 1993 will not, in the aggregate, own a large enough interest in a tenant or subtenant of the REIT to cause rental income received, directly or indirectly, by the REIT from that tenant or subtenant to be treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of the income requirements that REITs must satisfy. The restrictions described in the preceding sentence have an exception for tenants and subtenants from whom the REIT receives, directly or indirectly, rental income that is not in excess of a specified threshold.

Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of shares can result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of shares in excess of the constructive ownership limit. As the attribution rules that apply with respect to the constructive ownership limit differ from those that apply with respect to the common shares beneficial ownership limit, the events other than a purchase or other transfer of shares which can result in share ownership in excess of the constructive ownership limit can differ from those which can result in share ownership in excess of the common shares beneficial ownership limit. You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in your particular circumstances.

Issuance of excess shares if the ownership limits are violated

Our declaration of trust provides that a transfer of common shares that would otherwise result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of Code, of common shares in excess of the common shares beneficial ownership limit or the constructive ownership limit, or which would cause our shares of beneficial interest to be beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons, will have no effect and the purported transferee will acquire no rights or economic interest in the common shares. In addition, our declaration of trust provides that common shares that would otherwise be owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, in excess of the common shares beneficial ownership limit or the constructive ownership limit will be automatically exchanged for excess shares. These excess shares will be transferred, by operation of law, to us as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of a beneficiary designated by the purported transferee or purported holder. While so held in trust, excess shares are not entitled to vote and are not entitled to participate in any dividends or distributions made by us. Any dividends or distributions received by the purported transferee or other purported holder of the excess shares before we discover the automatic exchange for excess shares must be repaid to us upon demand.

If the purported transferee or purported holder elects to designate a beneficiary of an interest in the trust with respect to the excess shares, he or she may designate only a person whose ownership of the shares will not violate the common shares beneficial ownership limit or the constructive ownership limit. When the designation is made, the excess shares will be automatically exchanged for common shares. The declaration of trust contains provisions designed to ensure that the purported transferee or other purported holder of the excess shares may not receive in return for transferring an interest in the trust with respect to the excess shares, an amount that reflects any appreciation in the common shares for which the excess shares were exchanged during the period that the excess

 

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shares were outstanding but will bear the burden of any decline in value during that period. Any amount received by a purported transferee or other purported holder for designating a beneficiary in excess of the amount permitted to be received must be turned over to us. The declaration of trust provides that we, or our designee, may purchase any excess shares that have been automatically exchanged for common shares as a result of a purported transfer or other event. The price at which we, or our designee, may purchase the excess shares will be equal to the lesser of:

 

in the case of excess shares resulting from a purported transfer for value, the price per share in the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for excess shares, or in the case of excess shares resulting from some other event, the market price of the common shares exchanged on the date of the automatic exchange for excess shares; and

 

the market price of the common shares exchanged for the excess shares on the date that we accept the deemed offer to sell the excess shares.

Our right to buy the excess shares will exist for 90 days, beginning on the date that the automatic exchange for excess shares occurred or, if we did not receive a notice concerning the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for excess shares, the date that our board determines in good faith that an exchange for excess shares has occurred.

Other provisions concerning the restrictions on ownership

Our board may exempt persons from the common shares beneficial ownership limit or the constructive ownership limit, including the limitations applicable to holders who owned in excess of 6.7% of the common shares immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into Vornado in May 1993, if evidence satisfactory to our board is presented showing that the exemption will not jeopardize our status as a REIT under the Code. No exemption to a person that is an individual for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code, however, may permit the individual to have beneficial ownership in excess of 9.9% of the outstanding shares of the class. Before granting an exemption of this kind, our board may require a ruling from the IRS, and/or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it and/or representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.

The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 2.0% of the outstanding common shares must give a written notice to us containing the information specified in our declaration of trust by January 31 of each year. In addition, each shareholder will be required to disclose to us upon demand any information that we may request, in good faith, to determine our status as a REIT or to comply with Treasury regulations promulgated under the REIT provisions of the Code.

The ownership restrictions described above may have the effect of precluding acquisition of our control unless our board determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for our common shares is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND

OF OUR DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BYLAWS

 

The following description of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our declaration of trust and bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to Maryland law, our declaration of trust and our bylaws.

Classification of the Board of Trustees

Our declaration of trust provides that the number of our trustees may be established by the board of trustees, provided however that the tenure of office of a trustee will not be affected by any decrease in the number of trustees. Any vacancy on the board may be filled only by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum. Any trustee elected to fill a vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Our declaration of trust divides our board of trustees into three classes. Shareholders elect our trustees of each class for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms. Shareholders elect only one class of trustees each year. We believe that classification of our board of trustees helps to assure the continuity of our business strategies and policies. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees. Consequently, at each annual meeting of shareholders, the holders of a majority of our common shares are able to elect all of the successors of the class of trustees whose term expires at that meeting.

The classified board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent trustees more time consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of shareholders will generally be required to effect a change in a majority of the board of trustees. Thus, the classified board provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent trustees will retain their positions. The staggered terms of trustees may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or an attempt to change control of Vornado, even though the tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of the shareholders.

Removal of Trustees

Our declaration of trust provides that a trustee may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of trustees. This provision, when coupled with the provision in our bylaws authorizing the board of trustees to fill vacant trusteeships, precludes shareholders from removing incumbent trustees except for cause and by a substantial affirmative vote and filling the vacancies created by the removal with their own nominees.

Business Combinations

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland real estate investment trust and an interested shareholder or an affiliate of an interested shareholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested shareholder is defined as:

 

any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the trust’s shares; or

 

an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the trust.

A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

 

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After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland trust and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the trust and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the trust; and

 

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the trust other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the trust’s common shareholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of trustees before the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.

The board of trustees has adopted a resolution exempting any business combination between any trustee or officer of Vornado, or their affiliates, and Vornado. As a result, the trustees and officers of Vornado and their affiliates may be able to enter into business combinations with Vornado. With respect to business combinations with other persons, the business combination provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Vornado or other transaction that might involve a premium price or otherwise be in the best interest of the shareholders. The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of Vornado and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

Control Share Acquisitions

Maryland law provides that control shares of a Maryland real estate investment trust acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are trustees of the trust are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control Shares are voting shares which, if aggregated with all other shares owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

one-tenth or more but less than one-third,

 

one-third or more but less than a majority, or

 

a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of trustees of the trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the trust may itself present the question at any shareholders meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the trust may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the trust to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of

 

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shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction, or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our shares. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

Approval of Extraordinary Trust Action; Amendment of Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

Under Maryland law, a Maryland real estate investment trust generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or merge with another entity, unless approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. However, a Maryland real estate investment trust may provide in its declaration of trust for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Vornado may merge or consolidate with another entity or entities or sell or transfer all or substantially all of the trust property, if approved by the board of trustees and by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Similarly, our declaration of trust provides for approval of amendments (which have been first declared advisable by our board of directors) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Some limited exceptions (including amendments to the provisions of our declaration of trust related to the removal of trustees, ownership and transfer restrictions and amendments) require the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter.

Under Maryland law, the declaration of trust of a Maryland real estate investment trust may permit the trustees, by a two-thirds vote, to amend the declaration of trust from time to time to qualify as a REIT under the Code or the Maryland REIT Law, without the affirmative vote or written consent of the shareholders. Our declaration of trust permits such action by the board of trustees. In addition, our declaration of trust, as permitted by Maryland law, contains a provision that permits our Board, without a shareholder vote, to amend the declaration of trust to increase the authorized shares of any class or series of beneficial interest that we are authorized to issue.

Our bylaws provide that the board of directors will have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of persons for election to the board of trustees and the proposal of business to be considered by shareholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by the board of trustees or (iii) by a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the board of trustees at a special meeting may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by the board of trustees, or (iii) provided that the board of trustees has determined that trustees will be elected at the meeting, by a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

The business combination provisions and, if the applicable provision in our bylaws is rescinded, the control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law, the provisions of our declaration of trust on classification of the board

 

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of trustees and removal of trustees and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of Vornado that might involve a premium price for holders of common shares or otherwise be in their best interest.

 

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FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes the taxation of Vornado Realty Trust and the material Federal income tax consequences to holders of the common shares for your general information only. It is not tax advice. The tax treatment of a holder of common shares will vary depending upon the holder’s particular situation, and this discussion addresses only holders that hold common shares as capital assets and does not deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular holders in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances. This section also does not deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to certain types of holders to which special provisions of the Federal income tax laws apply, including:

 

dealers in securities or currencies;

 

traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings;

 

banks;

 

tax-exempt organizations;

 

certain insurance companies;

 

persons liable for the alternative minimum tax;

 

persons that hold securities that are a hedge, that are hedged against currency risks or that are part of a straddle or conversion transaction; and

 

U.S. shareholders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

This summary is based on the Code, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Code, published rulings and court decisions. This summary describes the provisions of these sources of law only as they are currently in effect. All of these sources of law may change at any time, and any change in the law may apply retroactively.

We urge you to consult with your own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning and selling common shares, including the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning and selling common shares in your particular circumstances and potential changes in applicable laws.

Taxation of Vornado Realty Trust as a REIT

In the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993, Vornado Realty Trust has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for taxable years ending prior to the date hereof, and Vornado Realty Trust’s proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for subsequent taxable years. Investors should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or any court.

In providing its opinion, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is assuming the accuracy of and relying,

 

as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in a certificate provided to Sullivan & Cromwell LLP with respect to Vornado;

 

as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in a certificate provided to Sullivan & Cromwell LLP with respect to Americold; and

 

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upon the opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP concerning the qualification of Alexander’s as a REIT for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1995.

In providing its opinion regarding the qualification of Alexander’s as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes, Shearman & Sterling LLP is relying, as to certain factual matters, upon representations received from Alexander’s.

Vornado’s qualification as a REIT will depend upon the continuing satisfaction by Vornado and, given Vornado’s current ownership interest in its REIT Subsidiaries, by the REIT Subsidiaries of the requirements of the Code relating to qualification for REIT status. Some of these requirements depend upon actual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, asset composition, source of income and record keeping. Accordingly, while Vornado intends to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, the actual results of Vornado or any of the REIT Subsidiaries for any particular year might not satisfy these requirements. Neither Sullivan & Cromwell LLP nor Shearman & Sterling LLP will monitor the compliance of Vornado or any REIT Subsidiary with the requirements for REIT qualification on an ongoing basis.

The sections of the Code applicable to REITs are highly technical and complex. The following discussion summarizes material aspects of these sections of the Code.

As a REIT, Vornado generally will not have to pay Federal corporate income taxes on its net income that it currently distributes to shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and shareholder levels that generally results from investment in a regular corporation. Our dividends, however, generally will not be eligible for (i) the reduced rates of tax applicable to dividends required by noncorporate shareholders and (ii) the corporate dividends deduction.

However, Vornado will have to pay Federal income tax as follows:

 

First, Vornado will have to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed real estate investment trust taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

 

Second, under certain circumstances, Vornado may have to pay the alternative minimum tax on its items of tax preference.

 

Third, if Vornado has (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property”, as defined in the Code, which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, it will have to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on that income.

 

Fourth, if Vornado has net income from “prohibited transactions”, as defined in the Code, Vornado will have to pay a 100% tax on that income. Prohibited transactions are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

 

Fifth, if Vornado should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below under “— Requirements for Qualification — Income Tests”, but has nonetheless maintained its qualification as a REIT because Vornado has satisfied some other requirements, it will have to pay a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the gross income attributable to the greater of (i) 75% of Vornado’s gross income over the amount of gross income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% test, and (ii) 95% of Vornado’s gross income (90% for taxable years beginning on or before October 22, 2004) over the amount of gross income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% test, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect Vornado’s profitability.

 

Sixth, if Vornado should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of its real estate investment trust ordinary income for that year, (2) 95% of its real estate investment trust capital gain net income for that year and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,

 

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Vornado would have to pay a 4% excise tax on the excess of that required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

 

Seventh, if Vornado acquires any asset from a C corporation in certain transactions in which Vornado must adopt the basis of the asset or any other property in the hands of the C corporation as the basis of the asset in the hands of Vornado, and Vornado recognizes gain on the disposition of that asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which Vornado acquired that asset, then Vornado will have to pay tax on the built-in gain at the highest regular corporate rate. A C corporation means generally a corporation that has to pay full corporate-level tax.

 

Eighth, if Vornado receives non-arm’s length income from a taxable REIT subsidiary (as defined under “— Requirements for Qualification — Asset Tests”), or as a result of services provided by a taxable REIT subsidiary to tenants of Vornado, Vornado will be subject to a 100% tax on the amount of Vornado’s non-arm’s length income.

 

Ninth, if Vornado fails to satisfy a REIT asset test, as described below, due to reasonable cause and Vornado nonetheless maintains its REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, Vornado will generally be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused Vornado to fail such test.

 

Tenth, if Vornado fails to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in its failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the REIT gross income tests or a violation of the asset tests described below) and the violation is due to reasonable cause, Vornado may retain its REIT qualification but will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

Requirements for Qualification

The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association

 

which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

that would otherwise be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

 

that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company to which certain provisions of the Code apply;

 

the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

 

during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include certain entities; and

 

that meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets.

The Code provides that the conditions described in the first through fourth bullet points above must be met during the entire taxable year and that the condition described in the fifth bullet point above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months.

Vornado has satisfied the conditions described in the first through fifth bullet points of the preceding paragraph and believes that it has also satisfied the condition described in the sixth bullet point of the preceding paragraph. In addition, Vornado’s declaration of trust provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of Vornado’s shares of beneficial interest. These restrictions are intended to assist Vornado in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in the fifth and sixth bullet points of the preceding paragraph. The

 

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ownership and transfer restrictions pertaining to the common shares are described in this prospectus under the heading “Description of Common Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership of Common Shares.”

Vornado owns a number of wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries. Code Section 856(i) provides that unless a REIT makes an election to treat the corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary, a corporation which is a “qualified REIT subsidiary”, as defined in the Code, will not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of these kinds of the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described in this section, Vornado’s qualified REIT subsidiaries will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of these subsidiaries will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of these kinds of Vornado.

If a REIT is a partner in a partnership, Treasury regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to that share. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, Vornado’s proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of any partnership in which Vornado is a partner, including the operating partnership, will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income of Vornado for purposes of applying the requirements described in this section. Thus, actions taken by partnerships in which Vornado owns an interest, either directly or through one or more tiers of partnerships or qualified REIT subsidiaries, can affect Vornado’s ability to satisfy the REIT income and assets tests and the determination of whether Vornado has net income from prohibited transactions. See the fourth bullet point on page 17 for a discussion of prohibited transactions.

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary is any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock, provided that the REIT and that corporation make a joint election to treat that corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary. The election can be revoked at any time as long as the REIT and the taxable REIT subsidiary revoke such election jointly. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary holds, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the securities of any other corporation other than a REIT (by vote or by value), then that other corporation is also treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A corporation can be a taxable REIT subsidiary with respect to more than one REIT.

A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to Federal income tax at regular corporate rates (currently a maximum rate of 35%), and may also be subject to state and local taxation. Any dividends paid or deemed paid by any one of Vornado’s taxable REIT subsidiaries will also be taxable, either (1) to Vornado to the extent the dividend is retained by Vornado, or (2) to Vornado’s shareholders to the extent the dividends received from the taxable REIT subsidiary are paid to Vornado’s shareholders. Vornado may hold more than 10% of the stock of a taxable REIT subsidiary without jeopardizing its qualification as a REIT notwithstanding the rule described below under “—Asset Tests” that generally precludes ownership of more than 10% of any issuer’s securities. However, as noted below, in order for Vornado to qualify as a REIT, the securities of all of the taxable REIT subsidiaries in which it has invested either directly or indirectly may not represent more than 20% of the total value of its assets. Vornado expects that the aggregate value of all of its interests in taxable REIT subsidiaries will represent less than 20% of the total value of its assets; however, Vornado cannot assure that this will always be true. Other than certain activities related to operating or managing a lodging or health care facility as more fully described below under “—Income Tests,” a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of the parent REIT.

Income Tests. In order to maintain its qualification as a REIT, Vornado annually must satisfy two gross income requirements.

 

First, Vornado must derive at least 75% of its gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property”, as defined in the Code, or from certain types of temporary investments. Rents from real property generally include expenses of Vornado that are paid or reimbursed by tenants.

 

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Second, at least 95% of Vornado’s gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from real property investments as described in the preceding bullet point, dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or from any combination of these types of sources.

Rents that Vornado receives will qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if the rents satisfy several conditions.

 

First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

 

Second, the Code provides that rents received from a tenant will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests if the REIT, directly or under the applicable attribution rules, owns a 10% or greater interest in that tenant; except that rents received from a taxable REIT subsidiary under certain circumstances qualify as rents from real property even if Vornado owns more than a 10% interest in the subsidiary. We refer to a tenant in which Vornado owns a 10% or greater interest as a “related party tenant.”

 

Third, if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.

 

Finally, for rents received to qualify as rents from real property, the REIT generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of the property, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no revenue or through a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, Vornado may directly perform certain services that landlords usually or customarily render when renting space for occupancy only or that are not considered rendered to the occupant of the property.

Vornado does not derive significant rents from related party tenants other than rents received with respect to its interest in Toys “R” Us, Inc. Vornado also does not and will not derive rental income attributable to personal property, other than personal property leased in connection with the lease of real property, the amount of which is less than 15% of the total rent received under the lease.

Vornado directly performs services for some of its tenants. Vornado does not believe that the provision of these services will cause its gross income attributable to these tenants to fail to be treated as rents from real property. If Vornado were to provide services to a tenant that are other than those landlords usually or customarily provide when renting space for occupancy only, amounts received or accrued by Vornado for any of these services will not be treated as rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests. However, the amounts received or accrued for these services will not cause other amounts received with respect to the property to fail to be treated as rents from real property unless the amounts treated as received in respect of the services, together with amounts received for certain management services, exceed 1% of all amounts received or accrued by Vornado during the taxable year with respect to the property. If the sum of the amounts received in respect of the services to tenants and management services described in the preceding sentence exceeds the 1% threshold, then all amounts received or accrued by Vornado with respect to the property will not qualify as rents from real property, even if Vornado provides the impermissible services to some, but not all, of the tenants of the property.

The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of that amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term interest solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

From time to time, Vornado may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of its assets or liabilities. Vornado’s hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Except to the extent provided by Treasury Regulations, any

 

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income Vornado derives from a hedging transaction that is clearly identified as such as specified in the Code, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, and therefore will be exempt from this test, but only to the extent that the transaction hedges indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate. Income from any hedging transaction will, however, be nonqualifying for purposes of the 75% gross income test. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means any transaction Vornado enters into in the normal course of its business primarily to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, by Vornado. Vornado intends to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize its status as a REIT.

If Vornado fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if it satisfies the requirements of other provisions of the Code that allow relief from disqualification as a REIT. These relief provisions will generally be available if:

 

Vornado’s failure to meet the income tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; and

 

Vornado files a schedule of each item of income in excess of the limitations described above in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the IRS.

Vornado might not be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions, however. As discussed below, even if these relief provisions apply, Vornado would have to pay a tax on the excess income.

Asset Tests. Vornado, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, must also satisfy three tests relating to the nature of its assets.

 

First, at least 75% of the value of Vornado’s total assets must be represented by real estate assets, including (a) real estate assets held by Vornado’s qualified REIT subsidiaries, Vornado’s allocable share of real estate assets held by partnerships in which Vornado owns an interest and stock issued by another REIT, (b) for a period of one year from the date of Vornado’s receipt of proceeds of an offering of its shares of beneficial interest or publicly offered debt with a term of at least five years, stock or debt instruments purchased with these proceeds and (c) cash, cash items and government securities.

 

Second, not more than 25% of Vornado’s total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class.

 

Third, not more than 20% of Vornado’s total assets may constitute securities issued by taxable REIT subsidiaries and of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s securities, other than equity securities issued by another REIT or securities issued by a taxable REIT subsidiary, owned by Vornado may not exceed 5% of the value of Vornado’s total assets. Moreover, Vornado may not own more than 10% of the vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer, except for issuers that are REITs, qualified REIT subsidiaries or taxable REIT subsidiaries, or certain securities that qualify under a safe harbor provision of the Code (such as so-called “straight-debt” securities). Also, solely for the purposes of the 10% value test described above, the determination of Vornado’s interest in the assets of any partnership or limited liability company in which it owns an interest will be based on Vornado’s proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code. As a consequence, if the IRS successfully challenges the partnership status of any of the partnerships in which Vornado maintains an interest, and the partnership is reclassified as a corporation or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation Vornado could lose its REIT status.

Since March 2, 1995, Vornado has owned more than 10% of the voting securities of Alexander’s. Since April of 1997, Vornado’s ownership of Alexander’s has been through the operating partnership rather than direct. Vornado’s ownership interest in Alexander’s will not cause Vornado to fail to satisfy the asset tests for REIT status

 

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so long as Alexander’s qualified as a REIT for each of the taxable years beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 1995 and continues to so qualify. In the opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, commencing with Alexander’s taxable year ended December 31, 1995, Alexander’s has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. In providing its opinion, Shearman & Sterling LLP is relying upon representations received from Alexander’s.

Since April of 1997, Vornado has also owned, through the operating partnership, more than 10% of the voting securities of the other REIT Subsidiaries. Vornado’s indirect ownership interest in such REIT Subsidiaries will not cause Vornado to fail to satisfy the asset tests for REIT status so long as each such REIT Subsidiary qualifies as a REIT for its first taxable year and each subsequent taxable year. Vornado believes that each such REIT Subsidiary will also qualify as a REIT.

Prior to March 31, 2008, Vornado also owned, through the operating partnership, a 47.6% interest in Americold. Vornado’s indirect ownership interest in Americold will not have caused Vornado to fail to satisfy the asset tests for REIT status so long as Americold qualified as a REIT with respect to the period during which Americold was owned by Vornado. Vornado believes that Americold qualified as a REIT with respect to such period.

Certain relief provisions may be available to Vornado if it fails to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30 day cure period. Under these provisions, Vornado will be deemed to have met the 5% and 10% REIT asset tests if the value of its nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of its assets at the end of the applicable quarter and (b) $10,000,000, and (ii) Vornado disposes of the nonqualifying assets within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect that are not described in the preceding sentence, Vornado may avoid disqualification as a REIT under any of the asset tests, after the 30 day cure period, by taking steps including (i) the disposition of the nonqualifying assets to meet the asset test within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets, and (iii) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

Annual Distribution Requirements. Vornado, in order to qualify as a REIT, is required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to its shareholders in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of Vornado’s “real estate investment trust taxable income”, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and Vornado’s net capital gain, and (b) 90% of the net after-tax income, if any, from foreclosure property minus (2) the sum of certain items of non-cash income.

In addition, if Vornado disposes of any asset within 10 years of acquiring it, Vornado will be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax built-in gain, if any, recognized on the disposition of the asset.

These distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before Vornado timely files its tax return for the year to which they relate and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after the declaration.

To the extent that Vornado does not distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least 90%, but less than 100%, of its real estate investment trust taxable income, as adjusted, it will have to pay tax on those amounts at regular ordinary and capital gain corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if Vornado fails to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of its ordinary income for that year, (b) 95% of its capital gain net income for that year and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, Vornado would have to pay a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

Vornado intends to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.

 

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From time to time, Vornado may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the 90% distribution requirement due to timing differences between (a) when Vornado actually receives income and when it actually pays deductible expenses and (b) when Vornado includes the income and deducts the expenses in arriving at its taxable income. If timing differences of this kind occur, in order to meet the 90% distribution requirement, Vornado may find it necessary to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.

Under certain circumstances, Vornado may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to shareholders in a later year, which may be included in Vornado’s deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, Vornado may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends; however, Vornado will be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Failure to qualify as a REIT

If Vornado would otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT because of a violation of one of the requirements described above, its qualification as a REIT will not be terminated if the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and Vornado pays a penalty tax of $50,000 for the violation. The immediately preceding sentence does not apply to violations of the income tests described above or a violation of the asset tests described above each of which have specific relief provisions that are described above.

If Vornado fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, Vornado will have to pay tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Vornado will not be able to deduct distributions to shareholders in any year in which it fails to qualify, nor will Vornado be required to make distributions to shareholders. In this event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable to the shareholders as dividend income (which may be subject to tax at preferential rates) and corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction if they satisfy the relevant provisions of the Code. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, Vornado will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. Vornado might not be entitled to the statutory relief described in this paragraph in all circumstances.

Taxation of Holders of Common Shares

U.S. Shareholders

As used in this section, the term “U.S. shareholder” means a holder of common shares who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is:

 

a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

a domestic corporation;

 

an estate whose income is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

Taxation of Dividends. As long as Vornado qualifies as a REIT, distributions made by Vornado out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits, and not designated as capital gain dividends, will constitute dividends taxable to its taxable U.S. shareholders as ordinary income. Noncorporate U.S. shareholders will generally not be entitled to the tax rate applicable to certain types of dividends except with respect to the portion of any distribution (a) that represents income from dividends Vornado received from a corporation in which it owns shares (but only if such dividends would be eligible for the lower rate on dividends if paid by the corporation to its individual shareholders), or (b) that is equal to Vornado’s real estate investment trust taxable income (taking into account the dividends paid deduction available to Vornado) for Vornado’s previous taxable year and less any taxes paid by

 

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Vornado during its previous taxable year, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied at both the REIT and individual shareholder level. Noncorporate U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of tax rates on dividends received from Vornado. Distributions of this kind will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of U.S. shareholders that are corporations. Distributions made by Vornado that Vornado properly designates as capital gain dividends will be taxable to U.S. shareholders as gain from the sale of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which a U.S. shareholder has held his common stock. Thus, with certain limitations, capital gain dividends received by an individual U.S. shareholder may be eligible for preferential rates of taxation. U.S. shareholders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

To the extent that Vornado makes distributions, not designated as capital gain dividends, in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to each U.S. shareholder. Thus, these distributions will reduce the adjusted basis which the U.S. shareholder has in his shares for tax purposes by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero. Distributions in excess of a U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in his shares will be taxable as capital gains, provided that the shares have been held as a capital asset. For purposes of determining the portion of distributions on separate classes of shares that will be treated as dividends for Federal income tax purposes, current and accumulated earnings and profits will be allocated to distributions resulting from priority rights of preferred shares before being allocated to other distributions.

Dividends authorized by Vornado in October, November, or December of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by Vornado and received by the shareholder on December 31 of that year, provided that Vornado actually pays the dividend on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. Shareholders may not include in their own income tax returns any net operating losses or capital losses of Vornado.

U.S. shareholders holding shares at the close of Vornado’s taxable year will be required to include, in computing their long-term capital gains for the taxable year in which the last day of Vornado’s taxable year falls, the amount that Vornado designates in a written notice mailed to its shareholders. Vornado may not designate amounts in excess of Vornado’s undistributed net capital gain for the taxable year. Each U.S. shareholder required to include the designated amount in determining the shareholder’s long-term capital gains will be deemed to have paid, in the taxable year of the inclusion, the tax paid by Vornado in respect of the undistributed net capital gains. U.S. shareholders to whom these rules apply will be allowed a credit or a refund, as the case may be, for the tax they are deemed to have paid. U.S. shareholders will increase their basis in their shares by the difference between the amount of the includible gains and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder in respect of these gains.

Distributions made by Vornado and gain arising from a U.S. shareholder’s sale or exchange of shares will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any passive losses against that income or gain.

Sale or Exchange of Shares. When a U.S. shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of shares, the shareholder will recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition, and (b) the holder’s adjusted basis in the shares for tax purposes. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the U.S. shareholder has held the shares as a capital asset. The gain or loss will be long-term gain or loss if the U.S. shareholder has held the shares for more than one year. Long-term capital gain of an individual U.S. shareholder is generally taxed at preferential rates. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. shareholder when the shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of shares of Vornado that the shareholder has held for six months or less, after applying certain holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by the shareholder from Vornado which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.

Backup Withholding. Vornado will report to its U.S. shareholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, backup withholding may apply to a shareholder with respect to dividends paid unless the holder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with

 

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applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The IRS may also impose penalties on a U.S. shareholder that does not provide Vornado with his correct taxpayer identification number. A shareholder may credit any amount paid as backup withholding against the shareholder’s income tax liability. In addition, Vornado may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to Vornado.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders. The IRS has ruled that amounts distributed as dividends by a REIT generally do not constitute unrelated business taxable income when received by a tax-exempt entity. Based on that ruling, provided that a tax-exempt shareholder is not one of the types of entity described in the next paragraph and has not held its shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code, and the shares are not otherwise used in a trade or business, the dividend income from shares will not be unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt shareholder. Similarly, income from the sale of shares will not constitute unrelated business taxable income unless the tax-exempt shareholder has held the shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code or has used the shares in a trade or business.

Income from an investment in Vornado’s shares will constitute unrelated business taxable income for tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from Federal income taxation under the applicable subsections of Section 501(c) of the Code, unless the organization is able to properly deduct amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its shares. Prospective investors of the types described in the preceding sentence should consult their own tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” will be treated as unrelated business taxable income to any trust which

 

is described in Section 401(a) of the Code;

 

is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code; and

 

holds more than 10% (by value) of the equity interests in the REIT.

Tax-exempt pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as “qualified trusts.” A REIT is a “pension-held REIT” if:

 

it would not have qualified as a REIT but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the Code provides that stock owned by qualified trusts will be treated, for purposes of the “not closely held” requirement, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust (rather than by the trust itself); and

 

either (a) at least one qualified trust holds more than 25% by value of the interests in the REIT or (b) one or more qualified trusts, each of which owns more than 10% by value of the interests in the REIT, hold in the aggregate more than 50% by value of the interests in the REIT.

The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as unrelated business taxable income to a qualifying trust is equal to the ratio of (a) the gross income of the REIT from unrelated trades or businesses, determined as though the REIT were a qualified trust, less direct expenses related to this gross income, to (b) the total gross income of the REIT, less direct expenses related to the total gross income. A de minimis exception applies where this percentage is less than 5% for any year. Vornado does not expect to be classified as a pension-held REIT.

The rules described above under the heading “U.S. shareholders” concerning the inclusion of Vornado’s designated undistributed net capital gains in the income of its shareholders will apply to tax-exempt entities. Thus, tax-exempt entities will be allowed a credit or refund of the tax deemed paid by these entities in respect of the includible gains.

 

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Non-U.S. Shareholders

The rules governing U.S. Federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and estates or trusts that in either case are not subject to United States Federal income tax on a net income basis who own common shares, which we call “non-U.S. shareholders”, are complex. The following discussion is only a limited summary of these rules. Prospective non-U.S. shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. Federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in common shares, including any reporting requirements.

Ordinary Dividends. Distributions, other than distributions that are treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by Vornado of U.S. real property interests, as discussed below, and other than distributions designated by Vornado as capital gain dividends, will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of current or accumulated earnings and profits of Vornado. A withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution will ordinarily apply to distributions of this kind to non-U.S. shareholders, unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in the shares is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business or is attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. shareholder maintains in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the non-U.S. shareholder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis, tax at graduated rates will generally apply to the non-U.S. shareholder in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to dividends, and the 30% branch profits tax may also apply if the shareholder is a foreign corporation. Vornado expects to withhold U.S. tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends, other than dividends treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interests and capital gain dividends, paid to a non-U.S. shareholder, unless (a) a lower treaty rate applies and the required form evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed with Vornado or the appropriate withholding agent or (b) the non-U.S. shareholder files an IRS Form W-8 ECI or a successor form with Vornado or the appropriate withholding agent claiming that the distributions are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and in either case other applicable requirements were met.

Distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder that are designated by Vornado at the time of distribution as capital gain dividends which are not attributable to or treated as attributable to the disposition by Vornado of a U.S. real property interest generally will not be subject to U.S. Federal income taxation, except as described below.

Return of Capital. Distributions in excess of Vornado’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, which are not treated as attributable to the gain from Vornado’s disposition of a U.S. real property interest, will not be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the non-U.S. shareholder’s shares. Distributions of this kind will instead reduce the adjusted basis of the shares. To the extent that distributions of this kind exceed the adjusted basis of a non-U.S. shareholder’s shares, they will give rise to tax liability if the non-U.S. shareholder otherwise would have to pay tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of its shares, as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether the distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, withholding will apply to the distribution at the rate applicable to dividends. However, the non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund of these amounts from the IRS if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of current accumulated earnings and profits of Vornado.

Capital Gain Dividends. Distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests that are paid with respect to any class of stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and held by a non-U.S. holder who does not own more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the one year period ending on the date of distribution will be treated as a normal distribution by us, and such distributions will be taxed as described above in “—Ordinary Dividends”.

Distributions that are not described in the preceding paragraph that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by Vornado of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to a non-U.S. shareholder under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended. Under this statute, these distributions are taxed to a non-U.S. shareholder as if the gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, non-U.S. shareholders will be taxed on the distributions at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative minimum tax in the case of individuals.

 

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Vornado is required by applicable Treasury regulations under this statute to withhold 35% of any distribution that Vornado could designate as a capital gain dividend. However, if Vornado designates as a capital gain dividend a distribution made before the day Vornado actually effects the designation, then although the distribution may be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder, withholding does not apply to the distribution under this statute. Rather, Vornado must effect the 35% withholding from distributions made on and after the date of the designation, until the distributions so withheld equal the amount of the prior distribution designated as a capital gain dividend. The non-U.S. shareholder may credit the amount withheld against its U.S. tax liability.

Sales of Shares. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale or exchange of common shares generally will not be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act if Vornado is a “domestically controlled REIT”, defined generally as a REIT, less than 50% in value of whose stock is and was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons at all times during a specified testing period. Vornado believes that it is and will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT, and, therefore, that taxation under this statute generally will not apply to the sale of Vornado shares. However, gain to which this statute does not apply will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if investment in the shares is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. trade or business or is attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. shareholder maintains in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the non-U.S. shareholder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis. In this case, the same treatment will apply to the non-U.S. shareholder as to U.S. shareholders with respect to the gain. In addition, gain to which the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act does not apply will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, or maintains an office or a fixed place of business in the United States to which the gain is attributable. In this case, a 30% tax will apply to the nonresident alien individual’s capital gains. A similar rule will apply to capital gain dividends to which this statute does not apply.

If Vornado does not qualify as a domestically controlled REIT, the tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder of a sale of shares depends upon whether such stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and the amount of such stock that is held by the non-U.S. shareholder. Specifically, a non-U.S. shareholder that holds a class of shares that is traded on an established securities market will only be subject to FIRPTA in respect of a sale of such shares if the shareholder owned more than 5% of the shares of such class at any time during a specified period. This period is generally the shorter of the period that the non-U.S. shareholder owned such shares or the five-year period ending on the date when the shareholder disposed of the stock. A non-U.S. shareholder that holds a class of Vornado’s shares that is not traded on an established securities market will only be subject to FIRPTA in respect of a sale of such shares if on the date the stock was acquired by the shareholder it had a fair market value greater than the fair market value on that date of 5% of the regularly traded class of Vornado’s outstanding shares with the lowest fair market value. If a non-U.S. shareholder holds a class of Vornado’s shares that is not regularly traded on an established securities market, and subsequently acquires additional interests of the same class, then all such interests must be aggregated and valued as of the date of the subsequent acquisition for purposes of the 5% test that is described in the preceding sentence. If tax under FIRPTA applies to the gain on the sale of shares, the same treatment would apply to the non-U.S. shareholder as to U.S. shareholders with respect to the gain, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.

Federal estate taxes

Common shares held by a non-U.S. shareholder at the time of death will be included in the shareholder’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

If you are a non-U.S. shareholder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to:

 

dividend payments and

 

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the payment of the proceeds from the sale of common shares effected at a United States office of a broker,

as long as the income associated with these payments is otherwise exempt from United States federal income tax, and:

 

the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished to the payor or broker:

 

a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person, or

 

other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations, or

 

you otherwise establish an exemption.

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of common shares effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of common shares that is effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:

 

the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States,

 

the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address, or

 

the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in U.S. Treasury regulations,

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.

In addition, a sale of common shares will be subject to information reporting if it is effected at a foreign office of a broker that is:

 

a United States person,

 

a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,

 

a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or

 

a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:

 

one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons”, as defined in U.S. Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or

 

such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business,

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

 

29

 


Other tax consequences

State or local taxation may apply to Vornado and its shareholders in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment of Vornado and its shareholders may not conform to the Federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in Vornado.

 

30

 


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Selling Shareholders and their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest may offer and sell, from time to time, some or all of the common shares covered by this prospectus. We have registered the common shares covered by this prospectus for offer and sale by the Selling Shareholders so that those common shares may be freely sold to the public by them. Registration of the common shares covered by this prospectus does not mean, however, that those shares necessarily will be offered or sold. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the common shares by the Selling Shareholders. The Selling Shareholders will pay all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the common shares, including fees of our counsel and accountants, fees payable to the SEC and listing fees. We estimate those fees and expenses to be approximately $42,000. The Selling Shareholders will also pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of the common shares covered by this prospectus.

The Selling Shareholders and their distributes, pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest may sell the common shares covered by this prospectus from time to time, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, at a fixed price or prices subject to change or at negotiated prices, by a variety of methods including the following:

 

in privately negotiated transactions;

 

through broker-dealers, who may act as agents or principals;

 

in a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell a block of common shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis;

 

directly to one or more purchasers;

 

through agents; or

 

in any combination of the above.

In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling Shareholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealer transactions may include:

 

purchases of the common shares by a broker-dealer as principal and resales of the common shares by the broker-dealer for its account under this prospectus;

 

ordinary brokerage transactions; or

 

transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers.

At any time a particular offer of the common shares covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will state the aggregate amount of common shares covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from the Selling Shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Any prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the common shares covered by this prospectus.

 

31

 


In connection with the sale of the common shares covered by this prospectus through underwriters, underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of common shares for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

The common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VNO.”

Any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the common shares covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, and any commissions received by any of those underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.

Some of the common shares covered by this prospectus may be sold in private transactions or under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 rather than under this prospectus.

We may agree to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. The Selling Shareholders may also agree to indemnify us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, for information they furnished to us for use in this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Vornado Realty Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of Vornado Realty Trust’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

VALIDITY OF THE COMMON SHARES

The validity of the common shares issued under this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, our Maryland counsel.

 

32

 


PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following is a statement of expenses (all of which are estimated other than the SEC registration fee) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation:

SEC registration fee

$       2,948

Printing and engraving expenses

$              0

Legal fees and disbursements

$     25,000

Accounting fees and disbursements

$     10,000

Transfer agent’s and depositary’s fees and disbursements

$              0

Blue Sky fees and expenses

$              0

Miscellaneous (including listing fees)

$       5,000

Total

$     42,948

 

 

 

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Trustees and Officers.

The Maryland REIT Law (“MRL”) permits a Maryland real estate investment trust to include in its declaration of trust a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. Vornado’s Declaration of Trust includes such a provision eliminating such liability to the maximum extent permitted by the MRL.

Vornado’s Declaration of Trust authorizes it to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses to, as such expenses are incurred by, each trustee or officer (including any person who, while a trustee of Vornado, is or was serving at the request of Vornado as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan) from all claims and liabilities to which such person may become subject by reason of his being or having been a trustee, officer, employee or agent.

Vornado’s Bylaws require it to indemnify (a) any trustee or officer or any former trustee or officer (including and without limitation, any individual who, while a trustee or officer and at the request of Vornado, serves or has served another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a proceeding to which he was made a party by reason of such status, against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding and (b) any present or former trustee or officer against any claim or liability to which he may become subject by reason of such status unless it is established that (i) his act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) he actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his act or omission was unlawful. In addition, Vornado’s Bylaws require it to pay or reimburse, in advance of final disposition of a proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by a present or former trustee or officer made a party to a proceeding by reason of such status upon Vornado’s receipt of (i) a written affirmation by the trustee or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the applicable standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by Vornado and (ii) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by Vornado if it shall ultimately be determined that the applicable standard of conduct was not met. Vornado’s Bylaws also (i) permit Vornado to provide indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses to a present or former trustee or officer who served a predecessor of Vornado in such capacity and to any employee or agent of Vornado or a predecessor of Vornado, (ii) provide that any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses permitted by the Bylaws shall be furnished in accordance with the procedures provided for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, under Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) for directors of Maryland corporations and (iii) permit

 

II-1

 


Vornado to provide such other and further indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses as may be permitted by the MGCL, as in effect from time to time, for directors of Maryland corporations.

The MRL permits a Maryland real estate investment trust to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the MGCL for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

The Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of October 20, 1997, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), of the operating partnership provides, generally, for the indemnification of an “Indemnitee” against losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts that relate to the operations of the operating partnership unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material and either was committed in bad faith or pursuant to active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. For this purpose, the term “Indemnitee” includes (i) any person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as (A) the general partner of the operating partnership, (B) a limited partner of the operating partnership or (C) an officer of the operating partnership or a trustee, officer or shareholder of Vornado and (ii) such other persons (including affiliates of Vornado or the operating partnership) as Vornado may designate from time to time in its discretion. Any such indemnification will be made only out of assets of the operating partnership, and in no event may an Indemnitee subject the limited partners of the operating partnership to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions in the Partnership Agreement.

Pursuant to the registration rights agreement between Vornado and the holders of units redeemable for the shares registered hereunder, each unit holder named therein (and each permitted assignee of such holder, on a several basis) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Vornado, and each of its trustees/directors and officers (including each trustee/director and officer of Vornado who signed a registration statement), and each person, if any, who controls Vornado within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which the common shares issuable to the unit holders upon redemption of their units were registered under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such unit holder; and (iii) against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided, however, that such indemnity shall only apply with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out

 

II-2

 


of (A) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to Vornado by such unit holder expressly for use in the registration statement (or any amendment thereto) or the prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) such unit holder’s failure to deliver an amended or supplemental prospectus if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred. A unit holder and any permitted assignee shall not be required to indemnify Vornado, its officers, trustees or control persons with respect to any amount in excess of the amount of the total proceeds to such unit holder or permitted assignee, as the case may be, from sales under the registration statement of such unit holder’s shares issuable upon redemption of units, and no unit holder shall be liable under the indemnification provision for any statements or omissions of any other unit holder.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to officers, trustees or controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, Vornado has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy and, therefore, unenforceable. In addition, indemnification may be limited by state securities laws. Vornado has purchased liability insurance for the purpose of providing a source of funds to pay the indemnification described above.

Item 16. Exhibits.

See the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings.

a)     

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 
(1)     

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

 
  (i)     

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 
  (ii)     

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 
  (iii)     

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 
   

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(i)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

 

II-3

 


 

(2)     

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post- effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 
(3)     

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 
(4)     

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 
  (i)     

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 
  (ii)     

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x), for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date it is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement   or the prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 
(5)     

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

 

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer to sell such securities to such purchaser:

           (i)     

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424:

 
  (ii)     

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 
  (iii)     

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 
  (iv)     

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 
b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the

 

II-4

 


  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
   
  c)         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-5

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on this 2nd day of May, 2008.

VORNADO REALTY TRUST,
a Maryland real estate investment trust

 

By:

/s/ JOSEPH MACNOW

 

Name:

Joseph Macnow

 

Title:

Executive Vice President —
Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

II-6

 


POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven Roth, Michael D. Fascitelli and Joseph Macnow, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, to any related Rule 462(b) registration statement and to any other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to file the same, with all exhibits to the registration statement and other documents in connection with the registration statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, grants to the attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifies and confirms all that the attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

By:        /S/ STEVEN ROTH                      
                     (Steven Roth)

Chairman of the Board of
Trustees (Principal Executive
Officer)

May 2, 2008

By:    /S/ MICHAEL D. FASCITELLI             
              (Michael D. Fascitelli)

President and Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:       /S/ JOSEPH MACNOW                   
                 (Joseph Macnow)

Executive Vice President —
Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

May 2, 2008

By:  /S/ Candace L. Beinecke         
            (Candace L. Beinecke)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:    /S/ ANTHONY W. DEERING             
             (Anthony W. Deering)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:      /S/ ROBERT P. KOGOD                  
                 (Robert P. Kogod)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:       /S/ MICHAEL LYNNE                   
                  (Michael Lynne)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:     /S/ DAVID MANDELBAUM              
              (David Mandelbaum)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:      /S/ ROBERT H. SMITH                  
                 (Robert H. Smith)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:      /S/ RONALD G. TARGAN                
                (Ronald G. Targan)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:        /S/ RICHARD WEST                    
                   (Richard West)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

By:    /S/ RUSSELL B. WRIGHT, JR.             
              (Russell B. Wight, Jr.)

Trustee

May 2, 2008

 

II-7

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

-

Articles of Restatement of Vornado Realty Trust, as filed with the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on July 30, 2007 -
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.75 to Vornado Realty Trust’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 (File No. 001-11954),
filed on July 31, 2007.

 

 

 

*

3.2

 

-

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vornado Realty Trust, as amended on March 2, 2000
- Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.12 to Vornado Realty Trust’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 001-11954),
filed on March 9, 2000.

*

4.1

 

-

Instruments defining the rights of security holders (see Exhibit 3.1 of this registration
statement).

*

4.2

 

-

Specimen certificate evidencing Vornado Realty Trust’s Common Shares of Beneficial
Interest, par value $0.04 per share — Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Amendment No. 1 to Vornado Realty Trust’s Registration Statement on Form S-3
(File No. 33-62395), filed on October 26, 1995.

*

4.3

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2006, by and between Vornado
Realty Trust and the holders of Units listed on Schedule A thereto

 

5.1

 

-

Opinion of Venable LLP.

 

8.1

 

-

Tax opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

 

 

8.2

 

-

Tax opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP.

 

23.1

 

-

Consent of Venable LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5).

 

23.2

 

-

Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 8.1).

 

23.3

 

-

Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 8.2).

 

23.4

 

-

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

24

 

-

Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

_______________________

* Incorporated by reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EX-5 2 ex_5-1.htm

Exhibit 5.1

VENABLE LLP LETTERHEAD

 

 

May 2, 2008

 

Vornado Realty Trust

888 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3  

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have served as Maryland counsel to Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of 793,372 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $0.04 per share (“Common Shares”), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3 and any amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). The Company may elect to issue up to 793,372 Shares upon redemption of Class A Units of Limited Partnership Interest (“Class A Units”) and Class B Units of Limited Partnership Interest (“Class B Units”) in Vornado Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). The Shares may be sold by the selling shareholders named in the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Selling Shareholders”) and are being registered on behalf of the Selling Shareholders pursuant to contractual registration rights.

 

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

 

1.         The Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”) in the form in which it was transmitted to the Commission under the 1933 Act;

 

2.         The Declaration of Trust of the Company (the “Declaration of Trust”), certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

 

3.         The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

4.         Resolutions (the “Resolutions”) adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Company, relating to the issuance and registration of the Shares, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 


5.         The Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;             

 

6.         A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

 

7.         A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

 

8.         Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

 

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

 

1.         Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

 

2.         Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

 

3.         Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

 

4.         All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

 

5.         None of the Shares will be issued, sold or transferred in violation of Article VI of the Declaration of Trust.

 

6.         Each of the Class A Units and Class B Units has been duly authorized and validly issued by the Operating Partnership and will be redeemed for Shares in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

 

1.         The Company is a real estate investment trust duly formed and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

 

 

 

2

 

 


2.         The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and if issued upon redemption of Class A Units and Class B Units, as applicable, in accordance with the Resolutions and the Partnership Agreement (assuming that, upon issuance, the total number of Common Shares issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of Common Shares that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Declaration of Trust), the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.

 

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

 

This opinion is being furnished to you solely for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Company, may rely upon this opinion for the purpose of rendering its opinion of even date herewith.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of the name of our firm therein in the section entitled “Validity of the Common Shares” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

/s/ Venable LLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 


EX-8 3 ex_8-1.htm 8.1

Exhibit 8.1

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

 

 

May 2, 2008

Vornado Realty Trust,

 

888 Seventh Avenue,

 

New York, New York 10019.

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as your counsel in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by Vornado Realty Trust (“Vornado”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States on May 2, 2008 (the “Registration Statement”).

In rendering this opinion, we have reviewed such documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate. In addition, in rendering this opinion, we have relied (i) without independent investigation, as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in a certificate provided to us by Vornado, dated May 2, 2008 (the “Vornado Certificate”), (ii) without independent investigation, as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in certificates provided to us by each of Two Penn Plaza REIT, Inc. (“Two Penn”), Alexander’s, Inc., Poly Hudson Westside I Corp., HC Hudson Westside I Corp., SO Hudson Westside I Corp., AH Hudson Westside I Corp., YK Hudson Westside I Corp., H Street Building Corporation and Universal Building, Inc. (each, a “REIT Subsidiary”), each dated May 2, 2008 (each such certificate a “REIT Subsidiary Certificate”), (iii) without independent investigation, as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in certificates to us by and from Americold Realty Trust, dated March 28, 2008 (collectively with the Vornado Certificate and the REIT Subsidiary Certificates, the “Certificates”), and (vi) without independent investigation, upon the opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, dated May 2, 2008, concerning the qualification of Alexander’s as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1995 (the “Shearman & Sterling Opinion”). We understand that, in providing the Certificates, Vornado and Two Penn are relying upon certificates, dated May 2, 2008, provided to them by David R. Greenbaum.

In rendering this opinion, we have also assumed, with your approval, that (i) the statements and representations made in the Certificates are true and correct, (ii) the Certificates have been executed by appropriate and authorized officers of Vornado and the REIT Subsidiaries and (iii) the assumptions and conditions underlying the Shearman & Sterling Opinion are true and correct.

Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon and subject thereto and on an analysis of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations thereunder, judicial authority and current administrative rulings and such other laws and facts as we have

 


deemed relevant and necessary, we hereby confirm our opinion that commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1993, Vornado has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, its manner of operations has enabled it to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT for taxable years ending on or prior to the date hereof and its proposed method of operations will enable it to satisfy the current requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for subsequent taxable years. This opinion represents our legal judgment, but it has no binding effect or official status of any kind, and no assurance can be given that contrary positions may not be taken by the Internal Revenue Service or a court.

Vornado’s qualification as a REIT will depend upon the continuing satisfaction by Vornado and, given Vornado’s current ownership interests in the REIT Subsidiaries, by each REIT Subsidiary, of the requirements of the Code relating to qualification for REIT status, which requirements include those that are dependent upon actual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, asset composition, source of income and record keeping. We do not undertake to monitor whether Vornado or the REIT Subsidiaries actually have satisfied or will satisfy the various REIT qualification tests.

We hereby consent to the reference to us in the Registration Statement under the caption “Federal Income Tax Considerations”. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

 

 

 

2

 

 


EX-8 4 ex_8-2.htm 8.2

Exhibit 8.2

 

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022-6069

May 2, 2008

 

 

Vornado Realty Trust
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004

Alexander's REIT Election

Dear Sirs:

In connection with the May 2, 2008 Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by Vornado Realty Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (the “Registration”), you have requested our opinion with regard to the election by Alexander’s, Inc. (“Alexander’s”) to be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”), within the meaning of section 856(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). We understand that Alexander’s has elected to be treated as a REIT initially for its taxable year ended December 31, 1995, and intends to continue to be so treated for subsequent taxable years.

In rendering this opinion, we have relied as to certain factual matters upon the statements and representations contained in the certificate provided to us by Alexander’s (the “Alexander’s Certificate”) dated May 2, 2008. We have assumed that the statements made in the Alexander’s Certificate are true and correct and that the Alexander’s Certificate has been executed by appropriate and authorized officers of Alexander’s.

In rendering this opinion, with your permission we also have made the following assumptions, which are based on factual representations made by Alexander’s and certified to us:

(a) Alexander’s has made a valid election to be taxed as a REIT for its taxable year ended December 31, 1995, which election has not been, and will not be, revoked or terminated.

(b) Since January 1, 1995, the outstanding shares of Alexander’s have been held by at least 100 or more persons, and such shares will continue to be held by 100 or more persons.

(c) Not more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding shares of Alexander’s have been or will be owned directly or indirectly, actually or constructively (within the meaning of section 542(a)(2) of the Code, as modified by section 856(h) of the Code), by five or fewer individuals (or entities treated as individuals for purposes of section 856(h)

 


of the Code) during the second half of every taxable year following the taxable year ended December 31, 1995.

(d) Alexander’s and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) will not receive or accrue (and since January 1, 1995, has not received or accrued) any amount that would constitute “rents from real property” (within the meaning of section 856(d)(1) of the Code without regard to section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) from (i) any corporation in which it owns (or since July 1, 1994, has owned) (a) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all shares of stock entitled to vote, (b) 10 percent or more of the total number of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation or (c) 10 percent or more of the total value of shares of all classes of stock, or (ii) any unincorporated entity in which it owns (or since July 1, 1994, has owned) an interest of 10 percent or more in the assets or net profits of such person, in each case, except for such rents that do not materially adversely affect Alexander’s ability to satisfy the relevant REIT income tests set forth in Section 856(c)(2) and Section 856(c)(3) of the Code. For purposes of this assumption, ownership is determined in accordance with section 856(d)(5) of the Code.

(e) Alexander’s has requested and maintained, and will continue to request and maintain, records concerning ownership of its outstanding shares in accordance with section 857(f)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and predecessor requirements.

(f)  Alexander’s has made and will make distributions to its stockholders sufficient to meet the distribution requirements of section 857(a)(1) of the Code for the taxable year for which the REIT election was made and every subsequent taxable year.

(g) For its taxable year ended December 31, 1995, Alexander’s had a deficit in earnings and profits (as defined in the Code) in excess of its accumulated earnings and profits (if any) as of the close of its taxable year ended December 31, 1994.

Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon and subject thereto and on an analysis of the Code, Treasury Regulations thereunder, judicial authority and current administrative rulings and such other laws and facts as we have deemed relevant and necessary, we are of the opinion that commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1995, Alexander’s has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code.

Qualification of Alexander’s as a REIT will depend upon the satisfaction by the Company through actual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership and otherwise, of the applicable asset composition, source of income, shareholder diversification, distribution, recordkeeping and other requirements of the Code necessary for a corporation to qualify as a REIT. No assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any one taxable year will satisfy all such requirements. We do not undertake to monitor whether the Company actually has satisfied or actually will satisfy the various qualification tests, and we express no opinion whether the Company actually has satisfied or actually will satisfy these various qualification tests.

This opinion is based on current Federal income tax law, and we do not undertake to advise you as to future changes in Federal income tax law that may affect this opinion unless we are specifically engaged to do so. This opinion relates solely to Federal income tax law, and we do not undertake to render any opinion as to the taxation of the Company under any state or local corporate franchise or income tax law.

We hereby consent to the use of our name and the reference to this opinion letter in the opinion letter given by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in connection with the Registration. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP

 

 

 

2

 

 


EX-23 5 ex_23-4.htm

Exhibit 23.4

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 26, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Vornado Realty Trust, and the effectiveness of Vornado Realty Trust’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Vornado Realty Trust for the year ended December 31, 2007, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey
May 2, 2008

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

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